Afghanistan: Unemployment, Domestic Violence Fueling Emigration: MoLSAMD

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The Afghan Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled (MoLSAMD) said on Tuesday that a lack of employment opportunities and increasing rates of domestic violence are both compelling growing numbers of Afghans to leave the country in search of a better life abroad. And many of the emigrants are resettling in countries illegally. "Domestic violence, social and economic problems have forced many Afghans to emigrate. They have to live in harsh conditions as illegal immigrants, and many of them turn into drug addicts," said Wasel Noor Mohmand, Deputy Minister of MoLSAMD. Mr. Mohmand cited high unemployment amongst young Afghans as one of the key issues driving many to seek opportunities abroad, even without proper documentation or set plans for their future in destination countries. Afghanistan has one of the largest youngest demographics in the world, with 60% of its overall population under the age of 20. According to MoLSAMD officials, the other major cause of the flight of Afghans abroad is the rise in violence against women. Fleeing abuse at home, many Afghan women seek safety and a new life abroad. Last month the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) reported a rise in violence against women in 2013, saying that it registered over 2,500 cases in the first four months of the year alone. Yet because many of the young Afghan men and women who are migrating to other countries in search of a better life are doing so illegally, they are unable to live well when they reach their destinations. MoLSAMD officials said that many of the Afghan emigrants have to live in harsh conditions, often resulting in homelessness, panhandling and drug addiction. Officials from the Ministry of Emigration and Repatriation (MoER) also expressed their concerns over the sudden increase in emigration, saying that currently one out of four Afghans chooses to emigrate. "Three million Afghan women and children have migrated to 75 countries, and 70 percent of Afghans who live in Pakistan are below 18 years of age," said Abdul Samad Hami, Deputy Minister of MoER. In an effort to reduce the number of emigrants, several non-profit organizations dealing with emigration and the dangers of illegal immigration have started conducting awareness programmes in several provinces across the country. During the 1980s and 1990s, roughly six million Afghans fled the country for Pakistan and Iran. However, estimates put around five million returning to Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban government.